Stephen King fans: Dark Tower question

[Lysitheia]

*******Spoilers ahead!********

Have any of y'all read "The Dark Tower"?

I've read to "Wolves of the Calla", and I'm sooo sick of Susannah/Odetta/Detta/Mia/ whoever.

I liked the character at first, but she's gotten a little stale. I wasn't in love with the Odetta/Detta thing, but, hey, have to suspend disbelief, no? It all started going downhill when she and Eddie went from liking one another to being married. It seemed too quick and motiveless.

I hate that the whole 'Lady of Shadows" thing is being used again when she become "Mia". It just seems so repetative. I thought the problem with multiply personalities was fixed when she and Detta merged.

Also, she seems like she's headed towards Mary Sue-ism at a fast rate. I can buy that she and the men are gunslingers, but she's also an instant expert at the plate, too? At least Roland and Eddie have some character flaws ( Roland uses people and Eddie's immature and selfish sometimes) but while she's not Mia, she has darn few less than stellar attributes.

I understand that all of this is attributable to Ka, at least in theory. In practice, it seems like Ka is ususally broader than this ( why aren't they all this great if it's Ka?)

This is only my 0.02, of course. I'd love to hear some opinions 

[Rei-chan]

Ok, huge DT fan here......I've read them all, AND gone over the other SK books for Tower references, etc.  I suggest you read Insomnia (if you haven't already) before you continue, as some of it factors into Book 7.

I would love to shed some light on the Mia thing for you, but since it comes out in Book 6, I don't wanna spoil it for you, or for anyone else not finished with the series that might read this.  Let's just say it's not exactly what you are thinking.  If you're like me and can hear extreme spoilers and still enjoy reading the book anyway, I will be glad to elaborate.

Also, word to the wise, be ready for some curveballs in the last 2 books.  While I love the series, Books 6 (to some extent) and 7 (to a big extent) jump the shark in my opinion, although there are some great moments too.   

[Lysitheia]

I'd love to know,but I'd regret it in the morning. 

Can you elaborate on the jump the shark, though ( I love the website, btw) ? Just the genralities?

[Chartreuse]

I'd love to know,but I'd regret it in the morning. 

Can you elaborate on the jump the shark, though ( I love the website, btw) ? Just the genralities?

I don't know how in depth you want to go on spoilers, so I'll keep it simple:  the further you get into the series, the more King falls back on cliches and fairly predictable and mediocre writing.  In general, the first few books were great, the middle of the series was mediocre, and the last two were frustrating.

Much as I love Stephen King, it seems like all his best work is the stuff he wrote in the late 70's and early to mid 80's.  The stuff he wrote when he was dealing with drug problems was actually his best work.  Since then it's been slowly going downhill, and ever since his near brush with death courtesy of a van, it's really taken a turn for the worst.

I realize that he probably couldn't have ended the epic any other way than he really did, but it felt almost like a cheap cop-out of an ending to me. 

I miss the old Stephen King.

Quick edit to add:  If you've read Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles, King's having one of the same issues she's had.  First two books, she really fleshed out characters.  It was good writing, you really got to know a three dimensional character.  As time went on, it felt like her characters became cardboard cutouts of their former selves.  It became lazy.  King falls into the same mistake, much as you've observed about the Mia character.  "Real" fleshed out character is gone, replaced with a cardboard unrealistic character.  This isn't my only complaint, but it's a major one.

[Rei-chan]

Well, in response to the jump the shark question, I wouldn't say SK got predictable, because I certainly didn't "predict" that kind of end to such a great series.  OK, here's goes an attempt at explanation w/o giving anything away:

During the years between Wizard and Glass and the final 3 books, I got on this kick of picking out the DT references in SK's other books.  I got so wrapped up in these "clues" that I kept expecting them to pan out in the final 3 novels.  Honestly, I really was expecting to see or hear about characters from MANY of the other books.  When Wolves of the Calla came out, I thought it was great, and was really building up to something that would blow me away.  I didn't see the Susannah/Mia thing as a repeat of the multiple personality story:  I thought it was something different, which goes back to my comment that it isn't what you were thinking.

Then come the last 2 books.  While some parts WERE good, and some of it was heartbreaking, the last 2 books felt rushed, and the pan out that I was expecting only came in the form of ONE of the other books (Insomnia).  However, this "pan out" made little to no sense AT ALL.  It really felt to me that SK was tired of the whole series and put it to rest as fast as he could, and the ending of 7 really suffered for that.

In one of the books it is mentioned that "Ka is a wheel".  This does ring true as far as the ending goes, but everything leading up to it in book 7 was a cop out to me, and I was really disappointed when I read the last pages.  I hope that the DT comics that are coming out next year will be better than the end of the series.

[Sophia]

I loved the books, all of them.  The first was best, of course.  At first, I didn't like the ending, but then I thought, what else could happen? 
With SK, I usually read them and listen to unabridged Audio books.  With DT series, I even keep the books and audio, which is so unusual, because except for this, I never read over again. 

[Lysitheia]

SK's characters are the best part for me; that's why Susannah is such a disappointment.

She's becoming one of those Obligatory Female Characters, ie "Women won't read a book without at least one female protagonist, so I'll stick one in. She doesn't really add much to the story*, but..."

* From what I've guessed/read online, this changes somewhat.

I hate hate hate that, because it feels like a sop to female readers.



Major Spoiler for Cell:



I felt that way about Alice (not as much, maybe, but it was there), until he killed her off. She was just a bit too perfect for me. Her death was touching and well written, and it moved the plot along nicely.

[Chartreuse]

You want a really in depth female character?  Read "Rose Madder" yet?   

[Sophia]

I loved the idea behind 'The Cell'.  Afterall, what is the first thing you would do when the world starts to go insane around you? 

In the DT Series, I thought all his travelling companions were very real, including Susanna.  She was annoying, but real.  In the book which talked about Roland's early years, the instructor was real, but none of the others. 

[Lysitheia]

I've read Rose Madder and really liked it. Something I love about SK is that his female characters are as vivid as his male characters, something many novelists have problems with.

[Rei-chan]

I agree with the comment about Rose Madder, and add my vote to Delores Claiborne and Gerald's Game as well.  Although I wasn't such a big fan of GG, I might add.  Cell was also a great book, and from what I understand the new SK book Lisey's Story has a lead female character as well.

As far as Susannah being an "obligatory female character" I don't feel that way.  The sixth book is called "Song of Susannah" for a reason.  

[beckygoesape]

Funny, I just finished Susannah's Song right before I got on the computer.

I've read the series up to Susannah's Song several times, but I've only read the last book once.  I was just so dissappointed because the ending seemed trite.

I find Susannah to be a fleshed out character.  I enjoy her in many ways. I wish that Jake had become more fleshed out as a character.  I thought that maybe a little child would lead them, but I was wrong.

I disliked "Cell"... I'd been there and done that.  "The Stand" is so much better.

I'll read "Lisey's Story" right after the 7th Dark Tower.  I started it but I had a difficult time getting myself into the story in the first couple chapters.

[Sophia]

Please don't say anything about the new SK.  It is a tradition for dad to give the latest SK to me for christmas.  So, I even avert my eyes at the front of a bookstore during December.  I like surprises, so I try to avoid even knowing a book comes out.  Which is sort of hard, since he comes out with at least one a year. 

[Lunadiana75]

No spoilers, just a vague reference. 

Loved the series.

I though the ending in book 7 was absolutely brilliant and very fitting.  But I seemed to stand alone on that one.  Anyone else?

[Rei-chan]

Lunadiana, my DH and I were just discussing the end of book 7 earlier tonight (all this talk got me on to rereading from Calla onward, as I have pretty much memorized the first 4) and he agrees with you that the ending was great.  The problem I have is the "P.D." (trying to be vague to not spoil it for anyone else) character, and not the last few pages of the book, but the last few chapters and what happens there.  What do you think about all that?  If you need to speak more freely, PM me if you like.  I am just interested in another take on the subject.